Peggy Kane, center, of the Cranberry Volunteer Fire Company’s Fire Safety Education Program was recognized by the township with a proclamation Thursday as she heads into retirement. Austin Uram/Butler Eagle

CRANBERRY TWP — The board of supervisors recognized Peggy Kane of the Cranberry Volunteer Fire Company’s Fire Safety Education Program on Thursday as she heads into retirement.

“She’s been a part of educating — this number’s crazy — at over 150 fire service events, over 500 or 600 hours of service in these programs, and over 40,000 school-aged children during her tenure with the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company,” vice chairman Bruce Hezlep said.

The Fire Safety Education Program was founded in the late 80s, according to Hezlep, by Wayne Kovac and Chris DeCree, who died two years ago.

“And it grew from a very, ‘Hey, we’ll just have some kids in, and we’ll just start this little stop, drop and roll,’ and ‘What do you do if there’s a fire? Get out of the house,’ right?” Hezlep said. “But it evolved over the years, and it has evolved to the point where the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company has been recognized not once, not twice, but several times as one of the leaders in the state in our fire prevention.”